Kingston, Jamaica — President John Dramani Mahama has proposed expanding the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to include Caribbean nations, describing the move as a bold step toward strengthening economic cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean.
Speaking during his official visit to Jamaica, President Mahama said the time had come for Africa and the Caribbean to move beyond historical and cultural ties and build a stronger economic partnership that benefits businesses, investors, and citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.
According to the President, opening AfCFTA to Caribbean countries would create new opportunities for trade, investment, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and cultural industries. He noted that the shared history and longstanding relationship between Africa and the Caribbean provide a strong foundation for deeper economic integration.
Strengthening Africa-Caribbean Relations
President Mahama emphasized that Africa and the Caribbean have maintained close diplomatic and cultural ties for decades, but economic cooperation has not reached its full potential. He argued that expanding AfCFTA would allow businesses from Caribbean nations to access one of the world's largest free trade markets while enabling African companies to explore new markets across the Caribbean.
He said such collaboration could help diversify economies, create employment opportunities, encourage innovation, and strengthen resilience against global economic challenges.
The President also stressed that enhanced trade would support entrepreneurship, particularly among young people and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which remain key drivers of economic growth.
AfCFTA's Growing Influence
The African Continental Free Trade Area is regarded as the world's largest free trade area by the number of participating countries. It seeks to eliminate trade barriers among African nations, promote industrialization, and boost intra-African trade.
Since its implementation, AfCFTA has been viewed as a transformative initiative capable of increasing trade across the continent while attracting foreign investment and improving regional value chains.
President Mahama believes extending the agreement to willing Caribbean states could serve as a bridge between Africa and the Caribbean, creating a larger market for goods and services and encouraging stronger commercial partnerships.
Boosting Investment and Cultural Exchange
Beyond trade, the proposal aims to deepen investment flows, educational exchanges, tourism, and cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, digital innovation, financial services, and creative industries.
President Mahama noted that both regions possess significant human and natural resources that can be leveraged through stronger partnerships. He encouraged governments, private sector leaders, and development institutions to work together to identify practical frameworks for expanding economic cooperation.
He added that closer collaboration could also strengthen food security, improve infrastructure development, and promote knowledge sharing between African and Caribbean institutions.
A Vision for Shared Prosperity
The proposal comes at a time when Ghana continues to champion stronger engagement with Caribbean countries through diplomacy, trade, and cultural exchange. During his visit to Jamaica, President Mahama reiterated Ghana's commitment to strengthening ties with members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Observers believe that while expanding AfCFTA beyond Africa would require extensive consultations and legal frameworks among member states, the proposal reflects a growing ambition to build a stronger Africa-Caribbean economic bloc capable of competing in the global marketplace.
If pursued successfully, the initiative could mark a historic milestone in Africa-Caribbean relations, transforming centuries-old cultural connections into a dynamic economic partnership that promotes sustainable growth, investment, innovation, and shared prosperity for future generations.
